Time to revive the blog

Okay, I'll admit it. Or, two its.
1. With facebook, the blog seems a little less "necessary" as far as keeping family and friends in the loop, and sharing pictures.
2. I have the food blog, which I've kind of been focusing on.

The results are obvious! I have been neglecting this here blog! Well that will change this year, even if it takes a few months to see the results. Is it my New Years resolution? Why, no. Actually I have accepted a 2-year teaching contract in Asuncion, Paraguay. I'm hoping that this move will give me a LOT to write (not just post FB pictures) about!! Yes indeed, 2013 is going to be BIG. :)

New Year, New Direction

Hi. Remember me? If you only read my blog, you'd think I perished somewhere in Austria over a year ago! I admit, keeping up with writing here, and posting pictures on Facebook seemed a bit redundant. Next year I hope to start uploading pictures and recipes from my cooking adventures to give the blog a new purpose and audience! Let me know what you think!
 In the interest of keeping my personal life separate, you can view it at: http://cellothug-food.blogspot.com/http://cellothug-food.blogspot.com/

Overnight, to Austria

The idea of overnight trains is so cool. You go to sleep speaking Italian, eating pasta, and wake up to German and schnitzel. We took an overnight train from Venice to Vienna, Austria. We also got really, really lucky and didn't have to share our compartment with anyone! Of course, the compartment was so small it was really hard to take pictures in (hence, the awkward pictures of Becca's legs...) but you get the idea...

Then there was Venice

I am SOOOOOO behind on this blog! Anyway, Venice was just as pretty as they say. It was hot. There are no cars. (Poor delivery-people.) The food was delicious. Maps are totally useless. We walked 30,000 steps in about 5 or 6 hours. There are LOTS of pigeons there. And what is a Ferrari store doing on a carless island, anyway?

Florence (may contain nudity)

Florence is another Italian must-see-if for no other reason than Michelangelo's David lives here. But actually, there are many other reasons, and it was a shame to leave. Pictured are...a HUGE church (4th biggest in the world), the Duomo, which gets its striped look from green, white, and pink marble, a replica of David (where he originally stood until he was moved into the museum, where, of course, no pictures may be taken), and a couple of pictures from the oldest bridge in Europe. And, of course, more delicious Italian food!! Also pictured: some essential Italy Vacation Reading (I must be the only person on earth who hadn't already read this...but now I have!

More Rome, honorable mention

Here are a few more pictures from Rome that I didn't want to leave out. We have...

a typical street

That big dome thing (I think the biggest) that I can't remember the name of. That's what I get for updating my blog 3 weeks after the fact!

The best strawberries I have EVER eaten (not to mention the cutest)

Saint Peter's Basilica

Some Roman Sights

On our first day in Rome, we did a lot of the "Rome Stuff," including seeing the Colosseum and Roman Forum. While the Colosseum is more famous and visited, I thought the Roman Forum (top) was even more beautiful. It just looked so....Rome. It made me want to read the Da Vinci Code all over again! We went lots of other places too, but I have to find where I wrote down their names first.

A few tips on Roman/Italian Dining: You will be brought a large basket of bread-and unless you send it away, be charged for it. Many Roman restaurants also charge a "cover fee" just for parking your rump in a chair. (If you find a not-so-touristy place where these things aren't charged, go back!) Anywhere you ask for water in all of Europe, you will be given bottled water, and charged accordingly. It is often literally cheaper to order a 1/2 liter of wine or beer than a soda or water.

Travel Tip #2

When you have a 6-hour train layover, march into the nearest hostel like you own the place, and use their free wifi. :)

Hey, we supported them with our business last week! I might even buy a refreshing beverage from their cooler.

This is also a great way to get a spoon if you bought yogurt without thinking ahead about utensils.